I’m not sure at what point I first decided that I liked art, or when I decided I would be an Artist. Every young Childs creations are cherished by adoring parents. But for me it became something serious, naturally.

 

One of our early childhood homes was situated on Worcester Boulevard in Christchurch, directly across from the Arts Centre, and every weekend there would be markets and stalls selling crafts.

I would make a stall of my own, dragging our coffee table onto the curb in-front of our house. I would string up paintings like a washing line and sell them for 20 cents each. And people bought them.

 

When I started High School taking Art as a subject was a no brainer. I was ecstatic to be able to spend school time painting, and to get marked on it. I was young and naive and assumed I was pretty good. However I was not the best in the class, not by a long shot. It was an eye opening realisation that art is subjective, and competitive, and that there was a whole world of artists out there, who intended to make it as I did. 

 

 

 

 

 

‘My style’ has changed and evolved over the years, as I discover and explore different mediums. And personal life experiences naturally impact what I make and project.

 

For a time I dwelled in a world of black and white. Portraits of animals and solleum made up beings, on large scale stretched canvas. 

 

 

Then there was a spell where I revelled in the realm of craft. Rediscovering a love of beading and stitching, creating works of ‘wearable art’ necklaces, mobiles and baby blankets. Soft felts, glitzy beads – a medium that felt playful, and curious, and didn’t take itself too seriously. 

More recently I’ve found myself back at drawing and illustration, using pens and felts on paper. Creating line drawings of black outlines, that come alive with loud and vibrant colouring in. Self portraits, still lifes, my cats. The felt tip style has sparked several new projects, that I hope to bring to life in the coming months.